Reversing-valve



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REVL'RSING VALVE.

No. 585,592. Patented June 29,1897.

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RBVERSING VALVE.

No. 585,592. y Patented June 29,1897.

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RBVBRSING VALVE.

No. 585,592. Patented June 29,1897.`

WITNESSES INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT @Erica JAMES PURVES, OF SHARPSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

REVERSING-VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 585,592, dated J' une 29, 1897. Application filed December 24, 1896. Serial No. 616,884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs PuRvEs, of Sharpsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Reversing-Valves, of which the following is a full, clear, and eX- act description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of my improved reversing-valve in position in furnaceflues. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section on the `line II II of Fig. 1, showing the valve partly raised; and Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing another arrangement of the valve.

My invention relates to the valves whereby the currents are reversed in regenerative and other furnaces, and is designed to provide an improved construct-ion of such valves by which short-circuiting of the air and gases is prevented and a perfect sealing of the valves is effected. It is also designed to prevent warping and destruction of the valves due to the impinging of the hot gases thereon, as well as to provide sealed valves which are so arranged that the operator may inspect the sealing portions during the operation of the furnace and without exposure to the hot gases.

In the drawings, in which similar numerals indicate corresponding parts, referring to the form of Figs. 1 and 2, 2 represents the chimney-iiue, and 3 and I the regenerator-iiues. The open tops of these lines are covered by a casing 5 of general rectangular shape, having an intermediate partition 6, dividing the casing into upper and lower chambers. Through this partition move the valves 7 7, one for leach regenerator-ilue, each valve consisting of a metal ring or cylinder having secured to its lower end an annular trough 8.` Around the upper end of this ring or cylinder is also secured a trough 9, having a depending iiange 10, which, when the valve is in its lowerniost position, enters a trough 11 of annular form, forming the valve-seat in the partition 6, this trough also having a depending iiange 12, ar- Lranged to enter the trough 8 of the valve when'the same is in its upper position. Each of the regenerator-iiues is provided with an annular trough 13 of sufficient size to receive the trough 8 at the lower end of the valve and seal this end of the valve when in its lowermost position.

The upper head of the casing is provided above each valve with an opening surrounded by an annular trough 14E, having a depending ange 15, arranged to enter the trough 9 of the valve and seal the same when in its upper position, the opening being closed by a circular flanged lid 16, seating in the trough. The central portion of the casing-head is also provided with the usual gas or air inlet valve 17, through which the currents enter the space above the partition 6 and thence pass to either regenerator.

Each valve is raised and lowered by avalvespindle 18, having at its lower end an eye taking about a pin 19, secured between transverse braces 20, and these valve-spindles may be operated bya wire rope 21, connecting their upper ends and passing over pulleys 22, this rope being actuated by a suitable lever 23.

In using these valves the sealing-troughs are supplied with either water or loose powdered material, such as sand, but I prefer to use a liquid, such as water, because of its cooling eifectupon the valves and the seats. Where water is used, I preferably cut notches in the lower edges of the lids 16 and also notch the upper inner portions of the troughs in which these lids seat, so that the water which is supplied by any suitable means to these upper troughs will flow over through the notches and thence drop into the troughs 9 upon the valves, whence it overflows into the troughs 11 in the partition 6, thence overflowing into the lower troughs 13. These troughs 13 are notched at the point a, through which the liquid iiows into a receptacle 24,

having a drain-pipe 25. i

In the side of the casing I provide doors 26, through which access may be had to the interior of the casing below the partition.

The operation of the valves will be apparent to those skilled in the art. When the valves are in the position shown in Fig.4 1, the gas or air entering the casing through the valve 17 passes down through the hollow valve at the leftv hand of the figure and thence to the regenerator, while the waste gases rising IOO through the right-hand flue pass directly to the chimney-flue 2, the currents being reversed by operating the lever 23 to reverse the positions of the valves. When the valves are in the position shown in Fig. 1, it is evident that the seals of the left-hand valve may be inspected by opening the left-hand door 26 while the furnace is in operation and without exposure to the hot gases passing to the chimney, while the upper seals of the other valve may be easily inspected in this position by lifting the light lid 16. Similarly in the reversed position of the valves the other seals may be inspected through the other door and by the lifting of the other top lid. Any leakage owing to the troughs not being properly filled with the sealing medium may thus be easily detected while the furnace is in operation and without the observer being exposed to the air or gases passing either to the regenerator or to the chimney.

In Fig. 3 I show myimproved valve as applied to regenerators using gas and air. In this form I divide the chamber above the partition 6 into two chambers bya partition-wall 27, located at one side of the gas-valve 17, thus forming a separate chamber for one of the rings 7', which is in this form the airvalve. Both rings being lowered at one end of the furnace, as shown in this figure, and the lid 16 being lifted to admit air, the air passes down through the left-hand valve to the regenerator, while the gas entering through the valve 17 passes down through the other valve to its regenerator. The corresponding valves for the other end of the furnace are both lifted, and both lids 16 at such end being seated the waste gases will rise from each regenerator into the space below the partition 6 of the valve and thence pass down into the chimney-flue 2. In this form the valves may be worked separately, if desired, or one of the rings of one set may be connected to one of the other set, so that as one is lowered the other is raised.

The advantages of my invention are numerous, since the sealing of the valves is perfectly effected under any expansion or contraction due to the heat of the gases, the life of the valves is much longer than those now used, the seals may all be quickly and easily inspected without interfering with their operation, and the sealing medium is easily and automatically supplied from one valve-seal to the others.

Many variations will su ggest themselves to the skilledmechanic without departure from my invention, since What I claim .is-

l. In a reversing-valve the combination with a casing, of a valve therein consisting of a ringlthrough which the gases pass, means for moving the ring endWise, and means for sealing one end of the ring at one point in the stroke of the valve and the other end at another point.

2. In a reversing-valve the combination with a casing, of a valve therein consisting of a ring through which the gases pass, means for moving the ring endwise, and means for sealing both ends of the ring at two different points in its stroke.

3. In a reversing-valve system, a casing having an intermediate partition dividing it into chambers, a ring movable through the partition and through which the gases pass, and seals for the end portions of the ring at each end of its stroke.

4. In a reversing-valve system, a casing over the fines, said casing having an intermediate partition dividing it into compartments, a ring movable through the partition, a seal in the partition for the hollow drum, and seals for the ends of the drum when in its different positions.

5. A regenerative valvel comprising a casing, a valve movable endwise therein, said valve consisting of a ring having annular troughs secured thereto near its upper and lower ends, and rings arranged to enter the said troughs and seal the valves.

6. The combination with a casing, of a ringshaped reversing-valve therein and having annular troughs secured thereto near its upper and lower ends, one of said troughs having a depending iiange, rings arranged to enter the valve-troughs when the valve is in one position, and a trough which the Iiange of the valve-trough enters when in its reversed position.

7. The combination with a casing, of a reversing-valve therein and comprising a ring having annular troughs secured thereto near its upper and lower ends, one of said troughs having a depending flange, rings arranged to enter the valve-troughs when the valve is in one position, and troughs which the valveiianges and one of the valve-troughs enter when the valve is in its reversed position.

8. In a reversing-valve system, acasing inclosing the upper ends of the iiues, an intermediate partition in the casing dividing it into two chambers, and valves movable through the partition, each valve consisting of a ring movable endwise the casing having seats for the valve.

9. In a reversing-valve system, a casing having an intermediate partition dividing it into compartments, valves movable through the partition, each valve consisting of a ring through which the gases pass alternately, and seals for the end portions of the drums in both positions thereof.

10. In a reversing-valve system, a casing having an intermediate partition, a valve in the form of a ring movable through the partition, water seals for the valve in both positions, and a sealed removable lid in alinenient with the valve.

11. In a reversing-valve system, a casing having an intermediate partition dividing it into compartments, a cross-partition dividing IOO IIO

one of said oo mpartments into seperate eheming arranged to reverse the three flues.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

current for the 41o JAMES PURVES.

IVitnesses:

F. E. GAITHER, I-I. M. CORWIN. 

